FDA Approves Apps That Cut Readmissions
By Katie Wike, contributing writer
Two telehealth apps from Philips have received approval from the FDA in an effort to enhance post-op care.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved two telehealth apps from Philips that seek to ease the transition from hospital to post-op home care, according to Fierce Mobile Healthcare. These apps focus on reducing readmissions to the hospital by providing physicians with data while patients rest at home.
“The FDA clearance of the Philips eCareCoordinator and eCareCompanion applications marks the first major step in realizing our vision for a digital health platform that seamlessly integrates data to transform the way we deliver patient care,” said Jeroen Tas, CEO, Philips Healthcare Informatics Solutions and Services in a press release.
“These applications address both clinician and patient needs, providing clinicians with better access and analysis around patient data while empowering patients to manage their own health with direct access to care teams. The deeper insights into patient conditions will help enable more efficient and cost-effective care for improved outcomes.”
MobiHealth News reports that, with eCare Coordinator, doctors can view daily summaries for each patient so that they can decide which patients need extra attention and which need their care plans adjusted. eCare Companion is a portal that patients can access on a tablet which helps them manage their own condition.
“As our healthcare ecosystem evolves to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population while facing financial realities, we’re seeing that digital healthcare can help us improve patient care and their quality of life,” said Dr. Hargobind Khurana, Medical Director of Banner Telehealth. “We’re eager to incorporate these two new applications as part of our telehealth program to our patients and clinicians to facilitate better recovery at home.”
Tablet-based apps to aid patients in managing their conditions have already been successful. Health IT Outcomes reports the Hackensack (N.J.) Physician Hospital Alliance ACO gave their patients 4G tablets and found the readmission rate of those equipped with the technology was 8 percent, while those without tablets had a readmission rate of 28 percent.